WNMU Board of Regents holds meeting in Santa Fe

During a meeting in Santa Fe on Thursday, the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents heard updates on the fiscal outlook of the state and the university, honored two outgoing members, and welcomed a new one.

David Abbey, Legislative Finance Committee Director, said the decline of oil and gas prices will have an effect on the state’s budget, but hoped the impact to higher education institutions can be minimal. He suggested that higher education’s budget might be flat, or possibly see a one-percent change.

The recommended capitol outlay budget for higher education, as prepared by the LFC, is $26 million for 2015, according to Abbey. He said Western’s share will be $900,000, which will go toward the renovation of Harlan Hall.

Abbey also addressed the recent change in the state’s funding formula for colleges and universities. The addition of performance-based components to the formula will continue to be an emphasis moving forward.

“I believe institutions are really getting the message that the Legislature is trying to send,” Abbey said, “that we need better outcomes for the money we’re sending.”

Abbey told the Regents that WNMU should focus on the percentage of students who complete their degree, which he said was “only 20 percent.”

“So, obviously, that is something that needs attention,” Abbey said.

While Brenda Findley, the newly named Vice-President of Business Affairs was in attendance, she asked that Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance Kelley Riddle give a report on the University’s financial situation and present a report on WNMU’s recent audit.

Riddle said the budget should be flat or come in better than expected for the year. According to Riddle, the University achieved a level of savings totaling almost $1 million by adjusting health care premiums and by vacating several faculty positions.

Riddle later told the Regents that the audit was clean, with the exception of a small finding related to the return of federal financial aid when a student disenrolls.

“We had one significant deficiency: Title IV funds were not returned within 45 days,” Riddle said.

According to Riddle, the money was only about $5,000, and therefore did not register as a substantive variance in the audit.

WNMU President Joseph Shepard updated the board on the state of the university. According to Shepard, enrollment is “flat” compared to last year — there are 35 fewer students than at the same time last year. Some universities in the state saw 10-percent declines in their enrollment, he said, so WNMU looks good by comparison.

“Obviously, I’d like to see it grow a little bit,” he said.

Shepard said Western has moved from a 13-to-1 student to faculty ratio to a 17-to-1 ratio, which is saving money.

He also said the university would be working on a marketing plan to attract additional students, and that he wants to make athletics more competitive — another way to increase new student applications.

The Regents voted to submit the third phase of the Light Hall Renovation project to the state. The $2.5 million project will begin in April, and is being funded by the Bond C severance tax approved by voters in November. Phase III of the renovation involves the faculty offices and classrooms at Light Hall.

President Shepard recognized outgoing Student Regent Camille Hawkins, saying she had been “exemplary with her thoughts and in practice.” He presented her with a number of gifts, including an iron brand featuring the WNMU logo.

Hawkins, who said she had “no idea what I was getting into,” when she joined the board, thanked her fellow members for their mentorship.

The Regents also honored outgoing member Tony Trujillo, who completed 12 years on the Board. In recognition, the remaining members voted to approve an honorary doctoral degree for Trujillo, who graduated from WNMU with a bachelor’s degree in 1975.

“You know, my dad had a sixth grade education, and my mom had a ninth-grade, and the only thing they ever wanted for me was to get an education,” Trujillo said in reaction. “And to do this, my god — I mean, I know they’re smiling like heck up there.”

In addition to Abbey, the Board had a number of special guests during the meeting. Secretary Designee Barbara Damron from the Department of Higher Education said she was looking forward to working with the regents during the upcoming year.

“We’re in a really good place, and we’re moving in a good direction with the funding formula,” Damron said.

She acknowledged there were still some issues with the formula, but said the department would continue to work toward solutions.

Dan Lopez, President of the New Mexico Intitute of Mining and Technology, told the Regents that he would continue to espouse cooperation among the state’s 4-year institutions.

“I think New Mexico is stronger when we work together.”

David Lepre, Executive Director of the New Mexico Council of University Presidents, also addressed the board. He said WNMU is producing more economic activity than what it receives from the state, and also excels at several other measures.

“Western does particularly well for graduating students who are financially at risk,” Lepre said.

He also addressed a number of statewide issues that will be difficult in the coming year, notably the state’s financial situation.

“We’re sort of falling behind a little bit in our connectivity and our infrastructure and so on,” Lepre said. “We also find hanging on to the best faculty is somewhat challenging.”

“And in this environment, it’s going to be difficult, because the money has just evaporated.”